Early December return possible for Reggie Jackson

We finally have it…. sort of. After months of not committing to a timetable for a return for point guard Reggie Jackson, Detroit Pistons coach Stan Van Gundy still hasn’t. However, Van Gundy did add a bit of clarity by saying that Jackson could be ready to go as early as the first week of December.

While nothing was firm or locked in about what Van Gundy said, it gives relief to Pistons fans to know that there is at least a light at the end of the Reggie Jackson injury tunnel.

Jackson has missed the entirety of the young NBA season due to a platelet-rich plasma injection to Jackson’s left knee.

The Pistons have a four game road trip next week, and that’s when Van Gundy says Jackson could possibly lace them up.

“Probably after the road trip, probably early December some time,” Van Gundy said. “He is starting to do some stuff. He still hasn’t done any 5-on-5. He did some 3-on-3 live (during morning shoot-around), a little of it full court.

“He looks good in what he’s doing, but he’s got to get more comfortable and he’s also gotta get his conditioning back. I think that hopefully Monday, the next chance that we get to practice, he’ll be able to do some 5-on-5 stuff. We’ll see how it goes from there.”

The Pistons are 7-9 through 16 games without Jackson, and have been inconsistent on both ends of the floor. Without Jackson, the team has yet to find a reliable go-to scorer late in games, which has resulted in a handful of close losses.

Jackson averaged 19 points and six rebounds last season, his first full season as a starter. He was expected to make a big jump this season until knee problems set him back. While the exact date of Jackson’s return is still unknown, there’s no doubt that it isn’t enough.